Berry box cover



H. C. ATKINS BERRY BOX COVER May 1, 1934.

Original Filed Oct. 16. 1931 Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Application October 16, 1931, Serial No. 569,201 Renewed July 22,1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in berry boxes of the typeemployed for dispensing raspberries, strawberries and the like, and hasreference more particularly to a sanitary cover to be 5 used inconnection with such boxes.

It'is well known that berries of all kinds are olfered for sale on thesidewalks or outside of the store buildings where they are exposed tocontamination from dirt and dust, and it is also cuslfl tomary forprospective buyers to turn the berries out of the box into their handsfor the purpose of inspecting the same, which is another source ofcontamination.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple cover that can bereadily applied to berry boxes and which will protect the berries fromcontamination from the sources pointed out and which will also be somade that the berries can readily be seen through the cover, a portionof which is made from transparent material.

This invention, briefly described, consists of applying to the ordinaryberry box a cover of cellophane, which is the trade name applied to atransparent membrane madefrom some composition, and which, in additionto being completely transparent is also waterproof. This transparentcover is held in place by means of a band preferably made from cardboardand of such size that it will telescope with the box. The

upper edge of this cover is bent inwardly and preferably serrated orscalloped so as to give it an ornamental appearance.

After the berries have been put in the box, the transparent covering isput in place, after which the cardboard band is put in place on theoutside of this covering for the purpose of holding the parts inassembled relation.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now bedescribed in detail, and for 40 this purpose reference will be had tothe accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated,and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a berry box showing my improved sanitaryprotecting device in place thereon; v

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview showing an interior angle of the band that secures the transparentcovering in place;

Fig. 4 is a development of the band and shows the shape of the blankfrom which this band is made and;

I Fig. 5 is a view showing a corner of a band like that illustrated inFig. 1 and illustrates how the same can be made extensible,

In the drawing reference numeral 1 indicates a berry box of the usualconstruction. The box shown is substantially square and is provided witha bottom. These boxes are open at the top. After the berries have beenput in place, a transparent member 2, which is made of a material knownto the trade as cellophane, is put in place over the berries. Thistransparent membrane or covering is out of such size that it edges willextend downwardly over the outside of the box and is held in place bymeans of a band which has been indicated as an entirety by referencenumeral 3. This band has been shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and is formed from ablank of cardboard or similar material cut into the shape shown in Fig.4. From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the band consists of four sections,a, b, c, and d; each of these have a length corresponding to the side ofthe box against which they are to lie. Score lines 4 extend transverselyof the band at points corresponding to the corners of the box. Thesection indicated by letter d has a tab 5 extending beyond the scoreline and this is used for overlapping the end of section a and is gluedto the latter so as to form an endless band. The so joint between thetwo ends of the band has been illustrated in Fig. 3. In addition to thetransverse score lines, a longitudinally extending score line 6 isprovided parallel to the edges of the band and above this score line arenarrow strips of material 7 whose edges are serrated as shown in Fig. 4.The band is bent along score lines 4 to form a rectangular structurethat is held in place by means of a tab 5. The upper edges 7 are bentinwardly in the manner indicated quite clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. Afterthe blank has been made in the manner described, it is placed over thetransparent cover and pushed down onto the sides of the box and servesto hold the transparent cover in place. In order to produce suflicientfriction to prevent accidental removal of the band, the severalsectionsare provided with tongues 8 that are cut from the material andwhich are folded upwardly against the inner surface of the band as-shownin Fig. 2. These tongues, in addition 100 to increasing the friction,also serve to space the inner surface of the band away from the outersurface of the transparent covering as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen from the description just given 105 that by means ofthis simple paper band, it is possible to provide berry boxes with atransparent cover that will be securely held in place and which willafford positive protection against contamination from dirt and dust.

In Fig. 5 I have shown how the bands may be made extensible bycorrugating the material transversely as indicated by reference numeral9. By making the material with shallow corrugations, it is possible toget a spring effect that is useful in case the sizes of the boxes vary.Since the boxes are usually made by machinery, their size is quiteuniform, but there may be a difference in size between boxes made ondifferent machines, and therefore this extensible feature is ofimportance.

It will be seen from the above description that by means of a verysimple holding device, it is possible to secure a covering oftransparent material in place on berry boxes and the like, and thecontents will therefore be protected against contamination. Owing to theconstruction usually employed in connection with boxes of this type,there are sufficient openings for the air to enter and circulate so thatthe v fruit contained will not become stale, due to the lack of freshair.

Sanitary covers of the type described can be manufactured very cheaplyand are\ therefore adapted for universal use because the extra cost willnot add appreciably to the cost of the goods dispensed.

In addition to holding the transparent cover in place, these devices arealso adapted for use for advertising purposes as the dealer can haveanything he desires printed on the outer surface, and it is evenpossible for a dealer to sell advertising space on this holder. Holdersof this type, aside from their sanitary properties, will also attractconsiderable attention to the goods and increase the sales thereof.

The tongues referred to in line 100 on page 1 also serve to permit freerair circulation because the boxes are always heaped full and thereforethe transparent cover will not lie flat against the sides of the boxunless forced by the band and if this is spaced by the tongues, thetransparent cover will remain wrinkled and thus provide passages whichpermit air circulation to take place between the outside of the box andthe transparent cover, and this prevents the berries from sweatingduring transportation.

The upward inclination of parts '7 prevents the berries from beingcrushed and also serves to display them to better advantage.

From the above it will be seen that I have produced a simple ventilatedand sanitary berry box cover.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a berry box, or the like, a transparentprotective cover of larger size than the box and means for removablysecuring the same in place, said means comprising a band having sideportions formed from two angularly related sections separated by scorelines, one section projecting inwardly over the top of the box and overthe transparent cover, to form a stop when the cover is applied to thebox.

2. As an article of manufacture, a device for securing a flexibletransparent cover in place on a berry box, said device consisting of anendless band of paper, or the like, having the same number of sides asthe box to which it is to be applied, there being score lines at thepoints corresponding to the corners, one edge of each of the sides ofthe band having a portion projecting inwardly over the top of the box toform a stop, and friction means cut from the band and attached theretofor holding the same in place on a box.

HARRY C. ATKINS.

